Goldfish Tears at the Pool Party

Maya's frizzy hair had other plans. She'd spent forty-five minutes with the straightener, but the moment she stepped outside, humidity declared war. Whatever. She threw it in a messy bun and grabbed her phone - three unread texts from Chloe about the party tonight.

Her mom's new boyfriend was in the kitchen, blending some green sludge. 'Want some? It's got every vitamin known to humanity.' He winked. Maya pretended not to hear and slipped out the back door.

The car ride felt endless. Her dad dropped her off with a awkward fist bump. 'Don't do anything I wouldn't do.' She rolled her eyes but said thanks anyway.

Chloe's house was already packed when she arrived. People spilling out onto the deck, music thumping against the windows. Then she saw him - Ryan, leaning against the patio railing with that effortless smile that made her stomach do that stupid flip thing.

'Hey Maya!' Chloe appeared, handing her a red solo cup. 'You came!' But before Maya could respond, someone shouted: 'BULL FIGHT!'

They'd dragged an inflatable bull into the pool area. A contest to see who could stay on the longest while people knocked them off with pool noodles. Absolutely ridiculous, but everyone was cheering.

Then Ryan grabbed her arm. 'You're up.' His hand was warm, his eyes bright under the string lights. 'Unless you're scared?'

Something came over her. Maybe it was the summer air thick with possibility, maybe it was just that she was tired of being the girl who stood back and watched everyone else have moments. She climbed onto that inflatable bull.

Someone handed her a water gun as her weapon. 'Hold on tight!' someone yelled.

She lasted exactly three seconds before going under. The water was cold and shocking, and when she surfaced, hair plastered to her face, makeup probably running, everyone was laughing. But Ryan was laughing too, and he extended a hand to pull her up.

'You're crazy,' he said, and it sounded like a compliment.

Later that night, floating in the pool with chlorine stinging her eyes, Maya realized her frizzy hair was wet and wild, her makeup was gone, she'd humiliated herself in front of her crush, and she didn't care. She was finally in the picture, not watching from the edges.

Sometimes you had to make a splash before you learned how to swim.